Non-Cheesy, Fun, Getting to Know Games for Parents of my Kiddo's B-Day?

[tssalacious]

Our little one is turning 2 and I invited the birthday up to her preschool class and our handful of local friends. There's now about 30 people (kids + parents) coming, many of who don't know each other.

Does anyone have recs for a non-cheesy game to get parents to get to know one another? I know this is a weird sub to post it but I thought it would be appreciated that it's definitely about our kid but the parents, too! I was thinking a white elephant gift exchange??

Obviously we're gonna bring stickers, pizza, juice boxes, music, chalk, etc. for the toddlers but really want to give this event a parental community feel, too.

Thanks!

 

[toyoken]

@tssalacious To be honest I would skip a game and just let the adults mingle as they would normally. Small talk is easy generally in these situations since there's always the kids or the preschool to talk about. My girl is 9 now and I've never seen any sort of get to know you games at any birthday we've been to.

 

[triflexer]

@tssalacious Honestly, I would be horrified if I was supposed to participate in some sort of "getting to know you" game with other parents. I'm an introvert and don't like being forced to play those games, plus I still need to pay attention to my 3 year old to make sure she acts like a human and not a semi feral being around other people.

 

[saved2015]

@triflexer This. It's bad enough when I'm at work and getting paid to play those stupid games. If I went to a party and someone said they were going to play a "getting to know you" game, I would:

1) instantly assume an MLM ambush was about to happen and
2) avoid that family from then on.

 

[tssalacious]

Ok thanks, appreciate all the input and will skip it!

 

[kimmac23]

@tssalacious Prosecco

(Kidding) (kind of )

 

[little1]

@tssalacious I don't think you need activities. The kids will gravitate to each other, dragging parents along. If you notice someone looking isolated, introduce them to someone. We had a mixture of people as well and it was fine, just focused on providing lots of food and drinks (array of juice boxes for the kids; ice tea, sparkling water, and adult beverages for everyone else)

 

[jimbobby2021]

@tssalacious Oh this would be my worst nightmare. At that age, my achievement is just making it to the party and surviving it.

But if you had plenty to keep the kids occupied and then there was plenty of wine, beer, drinks and food and chill, comfortable space for the parents to hang out that would increase a chance that Id hang out longer at the party and chat up other parents.

Also do your best to make your party is welcoming to both genders/ all parents and carers e.g make it a chill bbq or accessible park and circulate invite to all daycare cubbies, inclusive parents groups and make them non-gender-specific ( the opposite of having a pink princess unicorn party in a fancy restaurant setting or address invites to Johnny/Jane and his/her mom.) Having a more inclusive setting, invite and two parents/carers attending, is likely to increase attendance, make people more relaxed and increase chance that one parent will be on ‘child’ duty and second one will be free to socialise.

I’d also suggest to have someone else to help look after your son during the party ( think family, friend or babysitter) so you and your partner can be more free to socialise and get to know other parents ( hard to do if your 2 year old is overwhelmed and hanging on you…which is what happened at our party/to my partner).

 

[boscoe9]

@tssalacious I love the idea but agree with 2 year olds it will be difficult to engage in a game .. maybe with 5+ year olds